Senior Policy Adviser - RCN02658
Policy | RCN UK HQ with hybrid working | £52,839 (including inner London weighting of £5094)
Internal candidates only
Contract type: Permanent
Senior Policy Adviser
Posts will be based at RCN UK HQ (London), with opportunities for flexible hours, home and hybrid working.
One permanent 1.0 FTE post (35 hours)
Salary range £47,745 to £53,934 per annum
London weighting allowance: £5,094 per annum
At the Royal College of Nursing we’re an optimistic organisation. And we’ve got good reason to be. We all share the same voice when it comes to changing the shape of the health policies of the future. And as the largest trade union of nursing staff and students in the UK – with over half a million members – all we can see are the infinite possibilities for a brighter future. Join us and you will too. We're accredited with
Investors in People Silver Standard. Our people are our greatest asset, and we want people who can contribute to our purpose in line with our values.
As Senior Policy Adviser at the RCN, you’ll collaborate closely with colleagues and functions across the UK organisation, leading complex policy development and influencing to bring about change to public policy in England and across the UK, on issues impacting our members. This role will focus primarily on employment rights issues, working closely with colleagues in the employment relations team and our Trade Union Committee.
You’ll work closely with our research team to identity key issues, risks and opportunities for the nursing profession, using this insight to design policy projects and develop robust positioning to test with members, colleagues and stakeholders. You’ll create compelling evidence-based policy narrative and targeted recommendations, working with our public affairs team to identify opportunities for influence. You’ll lead on coordinating activity to influence the Employment Rights Bill in parliament.
You’ll build strong relationships with peers at Royal Colleges, Trade Unions, Government departments and other organisations across the health and social care sector. You’ll use your relationships to identify opportunities for collaboration, bring insight into the organisation and influence others to support our position.
To join us you’ll need to demonstrate that you have experience of analysing external policy and political landscape in the UK to identify specific issues and levers for change. You will also have the ability to produce detailed and consistently high-quality policy and data analysis, and policy recommendations supported by a credible evidence-based case for change.
You will also be able to demonstrate that you can foster strong professional relationships internally and externally and encourage close collaboration across the organisation.
It is essential for you to have a background in the employment rights policy area, and demonstrable experience of providing analysis and developing policy positions and recommendations on this topic. The policy team at the RCN handles a wide range of issue portfolios, balancing reactive and proactive work, managing uncertainty and changing priorities in the external environment.Therefore, we are looking for candidates who have experience managing competing priorities, working to short deadlines and who thrive in a fast-paced environment.
We are particularly keen to receive applications from policy staff working in leading trade unions.
To succeed at the Royal College of Nursing all you need to do is think bigger, better and brighter. And with an attitude like that, anything is possible.
What we offer you
We expect you to look after our members. And we expect you to be rewarded for it. We offer an impressive range of benefits, a broad range of learning development opportunities and an award-winning health and wellbeing programme. We offer annual leave up to 32 days plus bank holidays and three additional days for the Christmas break plus generous maternity, adoption, paternity, and shared parental leave packages.
*We offer a competitive pay structure with annual pay progression until you reach the top of the salary pay scale. We normally offer new employees the first point of the salary range, although you may be able to negotiate a higher starting salary depending on your skills, experience and current salary.
What we deliver for our members is wide and varied so when it comes to how we work one size doesn’t fit all. We also know that to empower our people to do their best work, they must be able to balance the demands of work and home. We are a diverse organisation and understand everyone has different needs and many of our employees enjoy flexible working enabling them to deliver results while having a good work-life balance. Departments and directorates have their own hybrid ways of working which put the needs of the service they deliver – whether that’s to members or to colleagues - at their heart, in alignment with our hybrid working core principles.
Although the role is based at RCN UK HQ (London), we have a flexible hybrid policy in our department. Successful candidates would not necessarily need to be London-based. You can find out more by having a discussion with the recruiting manager.
Our selection process
Please click the ‘apply now’ button to submit a CV and answer the supporting questions online demonstrating how you meet the criteria for this role. You may not be shortlisted if you don’t. Please ensure your CV is in a simple format with minimal tables and sections. Any identifying information in your application will automatically be anonymised for shortlisting purposes.
We want your experience applying for a job with us to be the best it can be. We may hold our interviews and assessments in person or by video call. If you foresee any problems, please let us know.
Equal opportunities for everyone
Equity, diversity and inclusion are a priority for us and we aim to foster an inclusive environment so our people can bring their authentic selves to work. This is integral to our mission to enable you to support our members and ensure their voice is heard by all UK governments to get the best outcomes for them and their patients. As a proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme we actively encourage applications from people with disabilities.
Contact details
For more information or for an informal discussion about the role please contact Charli Hadden, Policy Manager (charli.hadden@rcn.org.uk)
For more information about the recruitment and selection process please contact recruit@rcn.org.uk
Opening date: 15/04/2025
Closing date: 24/04/2025
If we receive many applications after a week of advertising, this vacancy may close earlier.
Assessment & interview date: Week commencing 05/05/2025
Interview date: 02/05/2025
Contracted hours: 35